Protecting the Temple of God

Protecting the Temple of God

Protecting the temple of God is one of the main problems in the world today, for most of the people are not protecting the temple of God.

Lamb of God

A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church

3 November 2013

Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References:

Psalm 119:145-152
Habakkuk 1:1-4
Habakkuk 2:1-5
1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Protecting the temple of God is one of the main problems in the world today, for most of the people are not protecting the temple of God.

Let’s think about a few things…

This past Thursday was Halloween, originally called All Hallows Eve, which was the evening before All Saints Day, and was celebrated on November 1st, this past Friday.

All Saints Day was a day to celebrate the people of God, who were believed to be true examples of what it means to be a true follower of Jesus; but Halloween, for the most part, has become a celebration of exactly the opposite of what Jesus would do or have us do.

Prior to Halloween this year, there was a “dietitian” being interviewed about all of the candy that the children would collect.

He said that the all sugar candies were very bad, but that chocolate was better because it contained fat and protein.

He went on to say that the children should spread out the eating of candy over several days, and perhaps eat things like cheese and crackers with it.

From everything we’ve learned over the years, this man’s advice was just as bad as what he was speaking against, for the eating of animal products is the root cause of almost all of our chronic diseases, particularly the dairy products, which are also in most chocolate candies.

This is also something that we should think about when we are preparing our meals, especially during the upcoming holidays.

Why?

Let’s take a look at 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, for one of the main answers.

16. Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

17. If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
NASB

Or at least this is the way we are supposed to be living and protecting the temple of God, our bodies.

If people give us bad health advice about the things we eat, and we follow their advice, are not we also helping to destroy or harm the temple of God?

Absolutely!

And, if this bad advice also includes the eating of animals, which all of us should know have suffered horribly all of their lives, then we are also hardening our hearts against the animals’ suffering, further helping to destroy the temple of God, and blocking the unction of the Holy Spirit, whom we are told dwells within us.

This is the same kind of distortion that turned All Hallows Eve into Halloween.

A person with a soft and contrite heart, who feels the suffering of the whole of creation and tries to free creation from its corruption, is also protecting the temple of God.

We need to reject all of these ungodly things and focus upon the truth of the heavenly will of God, which Jesus taught us, and which He told us to pray for.

With these things in mind, let’s take a look at Psalm 119:145-152, and see how it should apply to our lives today.

145. I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD,
and I will obey your decrees.

And we need to remember that one of God’s first decrees was that we and the animals were to eat only plant foods (Genesis 1:29-30).

146. I call out to you; save me
and I will keep your statutes.

God has always been willing to save us from all the evil in the world, if we truly repent and seek to live in His heavenly will; but who will save the animals from their horrible suffering?

We are the ones that are to be doing this, because this is another one of the decrees that God charges us with when He gave us rule and dominion over all the animals (Genesis 1:26 and 28).

Then since most people don’t keep these decrees, and actually work against them, how can they really be saved?

Or, are they lying to themselves and God?

147. I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word.

148. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises

God’s laws will indeed preserve our life, which includes protecting the temple of God, but at the same time we have to be willing to live as true peacemaking children of God according to His heavenly will.

150. Those who devise wicked schemes are near,
but they are far from your law.

It seems that the vast majority of the people in this world are the ones devising wicked schemes or reaping the benefits of those evil acts.

All we have to do is look around the world at all the warring madness, at the horrible suffering of animals, at what people put on their plates, and their poor health and rising health costs, and we should realize that something is terribly wrong.

151. Yet you are near, O LORD,
and all your commands are true.

If we know that the Lord’s commands are true, why isn’t most of the world following them?

Why aren’t they protecting the temple of God?

Why is there so much violence, bloodshed, and death?

Where are the true temples of God?

They seem too few and far apart.

152. Long ago I learned from your statutes
that you established them to last forever.
NIV

This also is true, but we must be willing to follow them in accordance with Jesus’ teachings and the heavenly will of God.

Let’s continue our study about protecting the temple of God, as we look at Habakkuk 1:1-4.

1. The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

2. How long, O LORD, will I call for help,
And Thou wilt not hear?
I cry out to Thee, “Violence!”
Yet Thou dost not save.

We also feel like this most of the time, as we look around the world at all the violence and suffering being inflicted upon millions of our fellow human beings and billions of animals every year, and at how few people are trying to live as peacemaking children of God.

3. Why dost Thou make me see iniquity,
And cause me to look on wickedness?
Yes, destruction and violence are before me;
Strife exists and contention arises.

4. Therefore, the law is ignored
And justice is never upheld.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore, justice comes out perverted.
NASB

And we pray, Lord, come now!

But at the same time we are continuing to do everything we can to free creation from its present corruption, and protecting the temple of God.

Let’s continue by reading Habakkuk 2:1-5.

1. I will stand on my guard post
And station myself on the rampart;
And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,
And how I may reply when I am reproved.

This is the stance of true children of God.

And God does answer, just as He answered Habakkuk.

2. Then the LORD answered me and said,
“Record the vision
And inscribe it on tablets,
That the one who reads it may run.

3. “For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay.

It just seems to take forever, and billions of God’s creatures continue to suffer and die every year.

O Lord, when will it end!

4. “Behold, as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous will live by his faith.

5. “Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man,
So that he does not stay at home.
He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,
And he is like death, never satisfied.
He also gathers to himself all nations
And collects to himself all peoples.
NASB

And the followers of the devil continue collecting to themselves the billions of animals who suffer and die every year for their greed and gluttonous desires.

In the midst of all the evil, the righteous ones will continue protecting the temple of God while they work at peacefully freeing creation from its present corruption.